Sunday, April 30, 2017

RSGB BERU contest.

After applying the latitude factor to the results - the situation had changed.

Team 1 is now in first place (Congratulation guys) and Team 2 in a third place.


Interesting reading:
https://berucontest.wordpress.com/results/2017-results/

https://berucontest.wordpress.com/results/2017-results/2017-activity/


73
P

Thursday, April 27, 2017

The results from RSGB "BERU" contest are out.

As I noted in earlier post, my result was not as good as previous years.  In recapping it was not caused as much as decline of propagation but by my emphasis on higher bands.  I did not spend enough time on 40 m.  Also the 40 m antenna was ordinary dipole.  If I had more effective antenna on lower bands, I'm sure it would be better.  Lessons to be learned.


 Here no doubt I've made tactical error.  Yes I was unassisted, however I did not tick the proper square.

Food for thought for the next one if I get invited.


73
p

Monday, April 24, 2017

My new hex beam by Waldi SP7IDX arrived and being assembled.



 The box as packed by Waldi.

 The first "skin" is off.
 First look.

 Well packed.  Not a sign of transport damage.

 This must be the hub.
 And it is.  The first clamp assembled as a guide.

 The three packs of spreaders.

 Bits removed from the packet.


 Centre post still it its bubble wrap.

 Ready to put the rest of the clamps on.

 Task one is complete.  All the clamps and the protective aluminium tubes in and tight.

 Now the center post turn to be added to the hub..


 This time the job of fastening the lugs to the rods.  Each rod has one clamp attached as a guide.  All I had to follow the measurements for the other spreaders.


 The clamp attached to the spreader rod.  Note the black electrician tape protecting the rod.  Also prevents slipping.  Smart move Waldi.

 All done now, so lets put it all together.


 Still flat.

 Self amalgamating tape applied to the top.



 The rods are supplied with the ropes attached and coiled.  It is easy then to bend the rods and hook the ends of the strings to the top ring.

 Here it is - full shape without the wires.



 The wires for all bands are threaded through and secured.

All done.

The frequencies all checked nicely.

Tomorrow or next day I'll lower the mast, remove the old hex and install the new toy.

Today (Friday) is the next day:

I've lowered the mast.



 and  removed the old hex

 There it is

Have to disassemble and put it away first because there is no space for two on the back.
It served pretty well considering that it was "put together" out of bits and pieces from at least two hex wrecks.

Here is the new toy begging me to hurry up and put it on the top of the mast to get the view.

After two hours of big battle and couple of branches of nearby trees removed to find the space to "swing the hex around".  It is up.  Yeeeehaaaa.




All seems to be fine.  The radio is "happy".  Had to change the tuning very slightly.  So I'm ready to chase DX (or contest) again.

73
p


The results of the Commonwealth contest were published.

  As I member of the team Australia 2, I was quite pleased with the result.